There’s a big party Saturday at JJ Commerford Stadium in Crystal City, and anyone interested in helping celebrate 100 years of Hornet football is welcome to attend.
There will be three musical acts featuring CCHS alums Eric and Chad Pruneau, the band “Chicken Whiskey” with alums Sandy Roth and Billy Pruneau, along with Rick McMullin, Tony Dixon and Jack Ginnever. Nashville recording artist and alum, Josh Pruno is the final act on a night where the school’s high school sports and activities are introduced. The cost is $5 for ages five and up. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. and the celebration begins at 4 p.m. There will be concessions, activities for kids, raffles, silent auction, 50/50 and more.
What’s the encore? The 2026 football season that Crystal City’s current crop of players and coaches have been working on at JJ Commerford since practice began on Aug. 10. That leads up to the 100th season’s official kickoff on Friday, Aug. 28 at Winfield. The Warriors were in Class 3 and had a record of 3-7 last season. The Hornets were also 3-7 and in Class 1. The Missouri State High School Activities Association will release class and district assignments on Aug. 28.
Stone seating reaches high above Crystal’s field, and by the end of a practice last week, with the help of two large trees, helped obscure an unforgiving sun that had temperatures well above normal and coaches checking wet bulb thermometers to make sure it was safe to be outside. Head coach Craig Collins and his assistant coaches put the Hornets through punt coverage and tackling drills. Plenty of water breaks were sprinkled in.
“It’s a blessing and an honor for me to be coach here. How often do you get a chance to be a part of a 100 years of football at a school?” Collins said. “Even if you’re at a school for 20 or 30 years you still may not get to fall on that honor. I’m taking this as a serious opportunity to have our community get involved.”
On the field, the number more important to 100 is whatever the final roster is set for opening night. Tryouts annually average between 22-25 players from freshmen through seniors. The Hornets hit that mark.
“We’re going to be fast-paced and go non-stop,” said senior Trent Eisenbeis, a four-year starter.
Eisenbeis is the son of CC athletic director Steve Eisenbeis, and is the latest in a long line of athletes the family has sent to the school over decades. Trent is a stalwart at defensive end and offensive tackle, but this year you might want to pay attention to personnel changes when the Hornets get near the goal line.
“We have a heavy package where I’ll be running, handing off or throwing the ball,” he said.
Eisenbeis has scored a TD before. In fact, he recovered two fumbles for TDs his sophomore year.
“I have to work hard to uphold the Eisenbeis name,” Trent said.
Talon Clayton, Gage McPherson, Conner Miller, Elias Miller and Evan Morgan are the other seniors on CC. Conner is currently at Army basic training, but will join the team when he completes it. There aren’t any juniors on the Hornets, who have 17 freshmen and sophomores almost equally distributed.
“It’s tough to be so energetic and passionate when you’re doing everything on both sides of the ball, because kids aren’t used to that these days,” Collins said. “These guys are getting ready for it, and we’re pushing it by saying, ‘Hey, next man up,’ and the energy’s been fantastic. We’ve been very blessed with our setup here. We have a lot of shade, and we literally script our entire practice to stick to that end of the field so we can keep these guys safe.”
Like most freshmen who get thrust into the starting job at quarterback, Kolton Adams struggled when he spelled Landyn DeRousse during games
DeRousse couldn’t finish or start because of injuries. Adams threw 11 interceptions and one TD. Collins said Adams’ rough introduction to Friday nights hasn’t deterred his confidence.
“Sadly, he had to be put in last year because our star, our stud, Landyn just couldn’t stay healthy, and we love that kid, and we’re missing him dearly, but all the experience Kolton got last year, and the things that normally break a kid – throwing interceptions, not having the best of games – made him gritty. Now he’s a sophomore veteran, and you can’t put a price on that. We are excited.”
McPherson is a top two-way lineman, who anchors the OL and had two sacks on defense last year.
“He is the guy who literally can run the entire defense,” Collins said. “I’m handing the reins to him, and when he’s on that field, he has things he can see, and he makes the call.”
Elias Miller is another top starter on both sides of the line.
“His biggest struggle was, he is so nice,” Collins said. “And such a good person, he doesn’t get mean and doesn’t get mad. He’s starting to get that switch flipped, and we are happy to see it, because he’s going to be a problem for a lot of people.”
Collins said this is Morgan’s first year of football since junior high.
“He has became one of our best players,” Collins said.
Clayton had an interception last year, but limited exposure to the ball on offense. Collins said Clayton is electric fast.